What Is The Sound ...

... Of Two Men Debating?Republican gubernatorial hopefuls Bill Scranton and ... er ... Jim Panyard are all set for a Jan. 25 debate at the Widener School of Law in suburban Harrisburg.Yep, you read that right: Scranton and Panyard.Even though he's said that he's ready to match wits with his challengers, former Pittsburgh Steelers star Lynn Swann still hasn't committed to the forum sponsored by the conservative Commonwealth Foundation."Apparently Bill Scranton ... decided that (he) was going to have a debate and figured out the date that (he) wanted to have the debate," Swann told us in Pittsburgh last week when we asked him about it. "And then they had a press release saying (he was) challenging me to a debate."We asked Swann at least twice whether he planned to attend and couldn't get an answer out of him one way or the other.State Sen. Jeffrey Piccola, R-Dauphin, was also slated to participate, but has since dropped out of the 2006 Guvstakes.So If Mike Long Is ...... Pennsylvania's very own Karl Rove, then what does that make former state Rep. Jeff Coleman?The Indiana County native has set up shop as insurgent adviser to the stars, the online news service Capitolwire reports this morning. The annoyingly boyish Coleman has a client list that includes Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Scranton, GOP lieutenant guv' wannabe Mike Turzai, and Republican kamikaze kandidatesJohn Eichelberger and Mike Folmer.The latter candidates, more astute readers might recall, are waging respective GOP primary battles against Senate President Pro Tempore Robert C. Jubelirer, R-Blair, and Majority Leader David J. "Chip" Brightbill, R-Lebanon.According to Capitolwire, Coleman is "now positioned to become the anti-Mike Long."Long, taking a moment from running the Galactic Empire, responded, "We defeat Democrats. They are fighting Republicans."

State House Speaker John M. Perzel ...... has posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a person who caused the hit-and-run death of a nun from his Northeast Philly district.Sister Paul Mercedes Perreca, 61, an Immaculate Mary Heart nun who was caring for her aging parents at their Mayfair home, was struck by the driver of a pick-up truck as she made her way to Mass at St. Matthew's Church, Perzel's office said.Anyone with information is urged to contact the Philadelphia Police Department..No Gambling For You Dept.The House Tourism Committee holds a public hearing this morning on a proposal to ban slot machine facilities near national historic sites ... which means, well, pretty much everywhere in Philadelphia and Gettysburg. And maybe, with some creative thinking, Bethlehem too.The hilarity begins at 9 a.m.EdWatch (tm):Gov. Ed's got a full day of cardboard check deliveries ahead of him. He's in Bedford, McConnellsburg and Shippensburg today to make a series of significant economic development announcements.It's so cute when they play coy, don't you think?VCR Reminder ...... or TiVo or Betamax or whatever floats your boat. State Sen. Jane Orie, R-Allegheny, will be a featured guest on the Fox News Channel's O'Reilly Factor on Thursday night. Orie will appear on the nationally televised scream-fest to discuss her proposal to implement a Jessica's Law for Pennsylvania.Named for slain child Jessica Lunsford, Orie's proposal would impose a first-offense minimum 25-year jail term on any person convicted of molesting a child, and, when released, require them to wear a GPS unit for life. Anyone convicted of a second offense would receive a mandatory life sentence.The O'Reilly Factor airs at 8 p.m. EST tomorrow night.

What The Heck Is Flavia Colgan Talking About Now? (tm):Everyone's favorite charity dream date takes on the massive problem of the AIDS epidemic in a new column for the faceless folks at PoliticsPa. Her verdict? President Bush isn't doing enough. Her prescription for change? Umm ... nope, can't find one.

On The Capitol Ideas iPod This Morning:Face it, when you think about British popsters The Fine Young Cannibals, you immediately think of their inescapable 1989 hit She Drives Me Crazy. True, it's an undeniably catchy tune, and the 1989 CD from which it comes (The Raw & The Cooked) propelled FYC to brief stateside fame, is one heck of a record. But it's not their best work.That honor is reserved for Les Cannibals' debut, self-titled LP from 1986, which features the ace single "Johnny Come Home," and an enegetic cover of the Elvis classic "Suspicious Minds."